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Columbia, SC metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a registered nurse make in Columbia, SC?

In the Columbia, SC metropolitan area, registered nurses earned a median of $81,920 a year ($39.39 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 9,400 of these jobs there. That is 76% above the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $68,460 and $108,210; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $63,345 in take-home pay.

Registered nurse pay in Columbia, SC at a glance

Median salary

$81,920$39.39 per hour · $6,827 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$68,460$32.91/hr
25th percentile$75,940$36.51/hr
75th percentile$96,190$46.24/hr
90th percentile$108,210$52.03/hr
Jobs in this metro9,400Location quotient 1.10 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here76% aboveAll-jobs median $46,430
Against South Carolina1% belowStatewide median $82,360
Against the U.S.16% belowNational median $97,550

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $82,000 a year leaves after tax in South CarolinaFederal tax, FICA and South Carolina withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$39 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $82,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $82,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation South Carolina publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about South Carolina.

Registered nurse salary in Columbia, SC after taxes

$81,920
$30,000$165,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$81,920
Net 77%
Fed 11%
SC 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$63,345After all taxes
Monthly deposit$5,279Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$2,436Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate22.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$9,192 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$3,116 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$6,267 / yr
Customize deductions in full South Carolina calculator

Registered nurses pay range in Columbia, SC, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What registered nurses earned in the Columbia, SC metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (SC)
10th percentile$32.91/hr$5,705$68,460$54,768
25th percentile$36.51/hr$6,328$75,940$59,534
MedianMedian$39.39/hr$6,827$81,920$63,345
75th percentile$46.24/hr$8,016$96,190$72,454
90th percentile$52.03/hr$9,018$108,210$80,284

Is $81,920 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for registered nurses next to both.

Median household income$68,359Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.76.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household119.8%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Registered nurses pay in other South Carolina metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Columbia, SC. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Registered nurse pay in Columbia, SC: common questions

What is the median salary for registered nurses in Columbia, SC?

The BLS median annual wage for registered nurses in the Columbia, SC metro area was $81,920 in May 2025, about $6,827 a month or $39.39 an hour. Statewide, the South Carolina median for this job is $82,360, so the metro pays 1% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for registered nurses in Columbia, SC?

The median hourly wage for registered nurses in Columbia, SC was $39.39 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $32.91 an hour and one in ten earned more than $52.03.

How many registered nurses work in Columbia, SC?

BLS estimated 9,400 jobs for registered nurses in the metro in May 2025, or 23.8 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.10 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for registered nurses in Columbia, SC?

BLS wage estimates for registered nurses in Columbia, SC run from $68,460 at the 10th percentile to $75,940 at the 25th, $96,190 at the 75th, and $108,210 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do registered nurses take home after taxes in Columbia, SC?

On a median gross salary of $81,920, an estimated $63,345 lands in net take-home pay per year ($2,436 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $18,575 (an effective rate of 22.7%).

How much do registered nurses make per month in Columbia, SC?

On the median annual salary of $81,920, gross monthly income is $6,827. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $5,279 per month (or $2,436 every two weeks).

Is $81,920 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

At $81,920, the median salary for registered nurses is 119.8% of the Columbia, SC median household income ($68,359). It is 76% above the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.7, so prices here run 6.3% below the U.S. average.